Finance & Funding

France’s ageing bridge problem highlighted

August 17, 2018

The recent fatal bridge disaster in the Italian city of Genoa has triggered questions being asked about the state of France’s bridges. And with around 33% of France’s 12,000 or so bridges now known to require repairs, there is an understandable cause for concern.

Chinese funding for Philippines infrastructure projects

August 17, 2018

Financing from China is playing a key role in in supporting the development of the transport infrastructure network in the Philippines. In all 18 major projects are planned to be carried out during the current administration in the Philippines, with the work benefiting from a colossal US$13.75 billion in funding from China. Both grants and loans make up the funding. The major road projects include those for the Davao City Expressway, the Camarines Sur Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway East. They

Nigeria road upgrade to boost capacity

August 17, 2018

Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council, (FEC) is giving its approval for an upgrade of the road running from Akwanga to Gombe. The 421km section of the A3 runs between Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi and Gombe and provides an important link between the centre of the country and Nigeria’s north east. A budget of US$973.6 million has been set for the work, which is expected to take four years to complete. The work involves widening the existing two lane highway into a dual carriageway with two lanes in either direction

Mexico highway network under construction

August 17, 2018

Mexico’s road, highway and bridge building programme is continuing, with new routes under construction. US$327.4 million has been spent on rebuilding existing roads and building new links in the Baja California region. Maintenance has been carried out on 1,873km of Mexico’s Federal Road network. A further $120 million has been used to upgrade the border link between Tijuana Airport and the city of San Diego in the US state of California.

Indonesia’s toll road network is expanding

August 17, 2018

Indonesia continues to expand its toll road network, with major routes being built and opening to traffic. The toll road firm Jasa Marga will expand its network from 787km to 1,000km by the end of 2018. Four key sections of toll road will be complete at the end of 2018, linking Gempol and Pasuruan, Salatiga and Kartasura, Wilangan and Kertosono and Batang with Semarang.

Cost climbs for key Bangladesh road link project

August 17, 2018

An increase is expected in the cost of the road project connecting Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka with Sylhet.

CEMEX safety system funding

August 16, 2018

CEMEX Ventures is providing financing for PRYSMEX, a Mexican company that offers a technology solution that can help prevent workplace incidents. This innovative solution features a web platform with a collaborative management app that monitors conditions on customised 3D maps. It is said to enable real-time decision-making and can boost safety and productivity. Placed on the workers’ helmets, PRYSMEX devices monitor conditions, alerting personnel to potential situations and high-risk areas. In addition, i

Building a major Turkish highway project

August 15, 2018

The North Marmara Motorway Project in Turkey has been a major focus for project financing, as well as for novel technical solutions for its construction. This mega infrastructure project is intended to boost transport connectivity between the European and Asian sides of Turkey International law firm Winston & Strawn LLP has advised on major project financing for two sections of the highway. The structure for implementation of the Project is based on the build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession model. The

Liberia considers more World Bank funding amid caution

August 15, 2018

Liberia is considering a World Bank offer of a US$500 million loan for more road projects, according media reports. Information Minister Eugene Nagbe said the government is also talking to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the African Development Bank as part of plans to use the loan for highway construction. Nagbe reportedly said, however, that representatives of the US, China and other development partners have cautioned the government over increased borrowing for major projects. Building and

Spedition UMB and Tehnostrade to build an orbital around Bacau

August 14, 2018

A joint venture of Spedition UMB and Tehnostrade has won the design-build contract for an orbital road around the Romanian city of Bacau. Romania’s National Company for the Administration of Road Infrastructure (CNAIR) awarded the contract that is expected to be worth almost €145 million. Planning is expected to last six months and construction to take 30 months for the nearly 31km road of which around 16km will be motorway. The road around Bacau, with a population of more than 200,000, will be integr